Marlinespike.



J. E. JOHANNESSEN. MARLINESPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1918.

1,272,962. Patented July 16, 1918.

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JOHAN E. JOI-IANNESSEN,-OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO JOHAN A. SETHER, ONE-FIFTH T0 OLAF C. HOFF, AND ONE-FIFTH T0 CHARLES J. CHRISTIANSEN, ALL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND ONE-FIFTH TO 0. A. WAAGE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Application filed January 12, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JoHAN E. JOI-IANNES- SEN, a citizenof the UnitedStates of America, residing at Brooklyn, in thecounty of .Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Marlinespikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates towhatare known as marline spikes for use in splicing cables and the like, the same being suggestive of an improvement in the device shown in a copending application Serial No. 146,505, allowed December 4th, 1917.

The principal object of the improvement resides in providing a shank portion which is provided with a pointed end and spiral grooves, the latter terminating in relatively long branches which extend substantially parallel with the axis of the shank so that on initially inserting the instrument through the windings of a cable to be spliced the same can be rapidly advanced therethrough and the windings of the cable readily separated from each other whereby to form a loop or eye in the cable in which the wires or strands at the extreme end of the cable can be passed and then securely confined about the cable by winding the same therearound, the longitudinal parallel branches of the grooves serving to facilitate the separation of the cable windings after the pointed end of the shank has been passed therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character which will be practical for the purpose intended; one which will be simple, strong and durable; one in which a lubricant can be readily fed between the expanding ,surfaces of the tool and the handle windings, and one which will operate without unduly abrading the cable during the splicing operation.

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the tool.

Fig. 2, is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3, is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4:, is a section on line 44:, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5, is a section on line 5-5, of Fig. 2.

With reference to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, use is made of a shank 6, having a handle or grip- Specification of Letters Patent.

MARLINESPIKE.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Serial No. 211,601.

ping portion 7 which is suitably milled in order to prevent its slipping in the hand during the splicing operation. The butt of the handle is provided with a rounded end 8, which may be firmly'centered in the palm of the hand when pressure is applied-to the tool. The shank is cylindrical through a portion of its length and through the remainder of its length the same is quite prominently tapered and it terminates in a relatively sharp point 9.

The point is provided with a plurality of straight grooves 10, which operate to permit the tool to take initial purchase between the windings of the cable to be spliced. Between the point and the inner end of the handle portion 7 the shank is provided with a plurality of spiral grooves 10. The spiral formation of these grooves is quite prominent at a point near the forward end of the tool, while as illustrated the said grooves terminate in relatively long branches 11, which are arranged in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the shank. These grooves are rounded along their edges as at 12, in order to prevent the cable from being abraded during the splicing operation. A suitable lubricant can be placed in the grooves and during the operation of advancing the tool through the windings of the cable, said lubricant will be distributed against the windings, in order that the operation of penetrating the cable can be appreciably facilitated.

In operation the point 9 of the tool is pressed against the cable until it finds a position between the windings thereof. Further pressure is then applied to the tool and the same is then automatically rotated incident to the spiral formation of said grooves. By tapering the front end of the tool the windings of the cables tend to freely separate as pressure is applied to the tool. On further advancing the tool through or between the windings of the cable that portion of the shank which is occupied by the parallel branches 11, of the grooves is made to enter between said windings and by oscillating the tool said windings of the cable can be finally expanded to their fullest extent with the utmost ease and rapidity.

If desired the grooves may be continued spirally throughout the shank as shown at 13, in Fig. 3. However, in this form use is made of a starting point i l, similar to the point 9, in the first described form of the invention.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. A marline spike comprising a shank provided With a pointed starting end, the said shank having spiral grooves advancing in thedirection of said pointed end, the grooves terminating at the opposite endof the shank in parallel branches.

2. A marline spike comprising, ,a shank having a substantially cylindrical section and a connected tapered section having a starting point provided With a plurality of straight grooves which extend through a portion of the length of said tapered section, said grooves terminating at one end at the apex of the point, said tapered sec- Copies of this patent may be obtained for tion having spiral grooves therein Whose forward ends extend into the immediate proximity of the inner ends of said straight grooves in said'starting point, the" said spiral grooves each having astraight'branch extending approximately throughout the length of said cylindrical section, a manipulating handle extending from said cylindrical section.

3. A marline spike comprising a tapered shank, said shank having spiral grooves therein, and arelatively sharp point formed upon the shank immediately in advance of the grooved portion thereof, said point having a plurality of straight grooves therein, all merging at the apex of the point.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHAN JOHANNESSEN five cents each, by addressing theffiommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

